WTAM Local News

PHOTOS: Boy hit and killed while walking to school

(Cleveland) - A five-year-old boy was hit and killed by a hit-skip vehicle Friday morning as he was walking to school on Cleveland's west side.

The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner identifies him as Israel T. Thornton of Cleveland.

Cleveland police say it happened at West 37th Street and Denison Avenue at 7:22 am.

Police Det. Jennifer Ciaccia says Israel was walking with his 13-year-old cousin and they were trying to catch a bus.

Det. Ciaccia says Israel was transported to MetroHealth Medical Center where he died as a result of his injuries. The vehicle that struck the boy did not stop at the scene of the accident and instead continued eastbound on Denison Avenue.

The vehicle is described as a light colored SUV or Caravan, license plate unknown. The vehicle may have damage to the grill or below.

The Accident Investigation Unit was on the scene. Other vehicles were traveling in the area at the time of the incident and other drivers may have seen the hit skip vehicle.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of the hit skip vehicle or the driver of the vehicle, or anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Second District at 216-623-5200 or the Hit Skip Unit at 216-623-5191.

Anonymous information can be given to Crime Stoppers by calling 216-252-7463 or via text message: text TIP657 plus your message to Crimes (274637).

Roseann Canfora, spokeswoman for the Cleveland Municipal Schools, tells WTAM the boy attended Village Prep, a charter school which partners with the CMSD. No other information about the boy is available yet.

Ironically, the fatality took place on the day that an annual ceremony takes place at Oliver Hazard Perry Elementary on the east side, honoring the memory of Molly Voinovich. In 1979, when her father was running for mayor of Cleveland, Molly was struck and killed as she was walking back to school from lunch at home.